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Saturday 12 July 2025
Chipmakers bet on premium smartphones to weather 2H25 headwinds
Despite a generally negative outlook for the second half of the year, Largan, a key market indicator, stressed during its earnings call that the demand momentum for new flagship smartphones remains largely unchanged compared to previous years.
Saturday 12 July 2025
Google brings Gemini AI to Wear OS, boosting Samsung's new smartwatch and foldables

Google is bringing its Gemini artificial intelligence model to smartwatches running Wear OS, marking a significant expansion beyond smartphones and tablets. Announced this week, the rollout will introduce a new generation of AI-powered features across wearables from major partners including Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus.

Friday 11 July 2025
Apple plans new MacBook Pro, iPhone 17e and iPads by early 2026
Apple Inc. is planning an ambitious pipeline of new products for release during the first half of 2026, including a new low-end iPhone, multiple iPads and upgraded Macs.
Friday 11 July 2025
Apple's foldable smartphone expected in 2026 as China's hinge and display suppliers gear up
Global foldable smartphone shipments rose only 9% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, a steep decline from the triple-digit growth seen in earlier years, according to Counterpoint Research. Now entering its sixth year of commercialization, the segment is losing steam, largely due to Apple's continued absence from the market.
Friday 11 July 2025
Qualcomm losing presence in Chinese flagship phones with MediaTek catching up

In a surprising change within the smartphone industry, MediaTek, long seen as the second largest chipmaker in the high-end sector, is gaining ground against American semiconductor giant Qualcomm in China's premium smartphone segment.

Thursday 10 July 2025
Samsung's foldable focus on high-end smartphones sparks chipmaker optimism
Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest flagship foldable smartphones, adding fresh momentum to what is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the foldable device market. While Samsung remains one of the pioneers in this category, it now faces intensifying competition from Chinese smartphone makers, which some industry executives believe could help grow the overall market, rather than diminish its prospects.
Thursday 10 July 2025
Stay or relocate: Taiwan makers weigh exodus amid weak government support
The free trade agreement (FTA) between the US and South Korea has now become irrelevant under Donald Trump's administration. Taiwan's tech products also face the possibility of losing the ITA and ITA 2 tariffs-free benefits granted under the WTO framework. Trump's tariff threat can be understood as a step to force Seoul to share the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea. But what does Trump want from Taiwan in the tariffs game? TSMC is already constructing wafer fabs and an R&D center in the US. Does Trump want AI server makers to set up assembly lines in the US, and for the Taiwan currency to sharply appreciate against the greenback?
Thursday 10 July 2025
Taiwan suppliers eye foldable smartphone growth, face barriers in South Korea
Taiwanese component suppliers are ramping up efforts to enter the growing foldable smartphone market, but penetrating South Korea's highly integrated supply chain remains a major challenge. Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest Galaxy Z foldable series on July 10, 2025, emphasizing slimmer, lighter designs—a trend seen as critical in the next phase of smartphone innovation.
Thursday 10 July 2025
Vivo debuts flagship X Fold 5 in Taiwan, targeting high-loyalty users for 'large folds'
On July 9, Vivo officially launched its first foldable smartphone, the X Fold 5, in Taiwan, marking a strategic move to tap into the premium device market, strengthen brand value, and challenge Samsung's dominance in the foldable segment.
Thursday 10 July 2025
Samsung looking to launch triple-fold smartphone in 2025
Samsung Electronics plans to launch a triple-fold smartphone by 2025, and for its goal in 2025, the Korean brand aims to equip its existing 400 million Galaxy devices with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, according to senior executives. These moves signal Samsung's continued push into both foldable devices and mobile AI technology.
Thursday 10 July 2025
Samsung's new foldables target mainstream adoption
Samsung Electronics has officially launched its new Galaxy Z series smartphones. On the surface, it appears to be just another routine product launch. However, this marks a new era of competition in the foldable phone market.
Thursday 10 July 2025
Foldable smartphone market awaits Apple's entry as growth stalls
Samsung Electronics and Vivo's recent foldable smartphone launches have rekindled interest in a segment that had lost momentum. Yet supply chain executives view these 2025 releases as mere warm-ups before Apple's anticipated 2026 debut in the foldable sector, which they expect will trigger genuine market competition.
Tuesday 8 July 2025
India at the center of Samsung's 2025 mobile strategy as it targets all price segments
Samsung has reclaimed the No. 2 spot in India's smartphone market in early 2025, driven by a dual strategy targeting both budget and premium buyers. Its renewed push includes AI-powered features, rural retail expansion, and flexible financing, reinforcing India's role as a critical hub for sales and production.
Monday 7 July 2025
Weekly news roundup: Samsung secures patents, Intel leadership shakeup, Apple foldable prototype
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This week's highlights include Samsung's strategic licensing of Intel patents to avoid global IP battles, Intel's executive shakeup, and Apple edges closer to launching a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, China's domestic AI chipmakers face steep uphill battles, while Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem formed a new alliance backing TSMC's international expansion.
Monday 7 July 2025
Foxconn sees year-over-year June growth, hit by currency woes
Foxconn's June 2025 revenue rose 10.09% year-over-year to NT$540.24 billion (approx. US$18.62 billion), driven by strong AI cloud demand, but fell 12.26% from May due to currency headwinds. The company remains cautiously optimistic for the second half, expecting seasonal ICT growth while monitoring geopolitical risks and fluctuating exchange rates.
Sunday 6 July 2025
From behind the curve: Apple and Xiaomi chase long-dominated 5G modem self-reliance
Apple and Xiaomi are doubling down on efforts to develop in-house 5G baseband chips, joining a race long dominated by tech heavyweights like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Both companies signaled their ambitions in 2025 to break away from reliance on third-party modem suppliers and take fuller control of their mobile silicon strategies.
Thursday 3 July 2025
Smartphone makers brace for 2025 demand surge with AI and new releases
As uncertainties persist around tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and exchange rate fluctuations, mobile phone manufacturers are preparing for the traditional demand peak in the second half of 2025. Industry players are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence integration and expanding new product launches to sustain and grow smartphone sales during this pivotal period.
Wednesday 2 July 2025
Production for iPhone 17 OLED begins; Korean display manufacturers cautious with orders due to Trump storm

South Korea's leading display manufacturers have officially begun production of OLED panels for Apple's upcoming iPhone 17, according to industry sources. While Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) have secured the initial batch of orders, the total volume appears to be lower than that for the iPhone 16, reflecting geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

Wednesday 2 July 2025
Apple starts early prototyping of foldable iPhone, eyes 2026 launch

Apple has quietly entered the early stages of developing its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with supply chain sources confirming that the company began its initial P1 (Prototype 1) phase in June. If everything stays on track, the device could complete prototype testing by the end of 2025 and proceed to the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) stage, setting the stage for a possible launch in the second half of 2026.

Tuesday 1 July 2025
Dixon sees order diversification as clients split smartphone volumes among rivals
Dixon Technologies, India's largest EMS provider, is seeing a shift in its smartphone manufacturing business as key clients begin splitting orders with competing suppliers.
Friday 27 June 2025
Q3 outlook: smartphone industry weighs tariff risks against product launch momentum
As the calendar turns to the third quarter of 2025, the global smartphone industry finds itself at a critical juncture, shaped by a complex mix of geopolitical tensions, tariff uncertainty, and currency volatility. These macroeconomic headwinds continue to weigh on consumer sentiment, making a strong recovery in end-market demand increasingly difficult. Industry analysts are warning of rising operating costs and mounting challenges for smartphone vendors in the second half of the year.
Thursday 26 June 2025
Taiwan telcos slow to embrace satellite phones despite approval
Taiwan's telecommunications operators remain cautious about satellite phone services even after regulators cleared the way for applications, highlighting challenges in a market seeking differentiation amid fierce competition.
Wednesday 25 June 2025
Smartphone brands prepare Q3 launches after tepid 618 shopping festival performance
China's 618 Shopping Festival ended with smartphone sales showing continued growth, though at a more modest pace than previous years, as consumer demand weakened due to tariffs, inflation, and geopolitical tensions.
Wednesday 25 June 2025
Apple's foldable iPhone nears production; Novatek seeks role in OLED chip supply
Apple is reportedly preparing to initiate development of its first foldable smartphone in the second half of 2025, with contract manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn) accelerating design efforts, according to supply chain sources familiar with the matter.
Tuesday 24 June 2025
Samsung takes cautious approach to adopting next-gen smartphone battery technologies
While Chinese smartphone manufacturers are using large battery capacities and fast charging speeds to launch a fierce marketing war, Samsung Electronics has chosen to "take a step back," cautiously introducing next-generation battery technologies.